Dallas Cowboys should hold their ground on Dak Prescott

With the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott struggling to reach an agreement on a contract extension, the organization should hold their ground.

The Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have been unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension after several months of negotiations. Prescott’s set to make roughly $31 million for the 2020 NFL season on the exclusive franchise tag. But he clearly wants to be paid among the league’s best at his position.

While there have been several reports surrounding the exact offers that have been made to Prescott, Cowboys insider Mike Fisher has reported that Dak has an offer of five-years, $175 million on the table, with more than $106 million guaranteed. If true, this would match Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson as for the highest yearly salary of $35 million.

While it seems like a no-brainer for Prescott, his camp is allegedly seeking a four-year deal, rather than the offered five-year extension. His team seems to be using an uncommon strategy for his contract negotiations.

Most players in the NFL, specifically quarterbacks, aim for as many years as possible when it comes to their second contract in the league. This allows the player to be compensated long term and gives them financial stability and certainty.

Prescott, however, seems to be prioritizing becoming a free agent sooner in order to sign another deal. The quarterback market should reset when Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson receive what will likely be record-breaking contract extensions at some point.

From the perspective of the Cowboys’ organization, it’s logical that they would want to lock up their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future on a lengthy deal. Ownership has been adamant that Prescott is their guy and they want him to be the leader of a team that makes its first Super Bowl appearance since the 1995 season.

Despite other quarterbacks potentially raising the market for a contract, the Cowboys should not feel pressure to break and give in to Prescott. With a new head coach and a new supporting cast, it will be important to see how Dak performs under new management and judge the team’s overall effectiveness on the field.

A franchise-tag would allow the organization one more season to determine the true value of Dak Prescott. And the Dallas Cowboys have insurance in case of a potential holdout with the signing of former Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback, Andy Dalton. With the Cowboys’ very talented offensive supporting cast, they should feel comfortable that the team can win games with Dalton at the helm if needed.